Ravenswood was founded in 1976 by Joel Peterson. The winery is a pioneer in producing single vineyard Zinfandels from some of Napa and Sonoma’s most treasured vineyards, including Dickerson, Old Hill, Cooke and Belloni. I used to visit Ravenswood in the summer, when they released their single vineyard wines. Back in the day they also served delicious barbecue on the deck out behind the winery. Great wine, great food and great memories.
Ravenswood was sold earlier this year by Constellation to Gallo and the iconic Sonoma tasting room was shut down. The future of the brand is in question at this moment. I blogged about this recently in The End of an Era with the Closure of the Ravenswood Tasting Room.
Big River Vineyard is situated in the heart of Alexander Valley and the vines trace back to the the 1890’s.
Dark red in color. 15% ABV. Intriguing nose of black fruits, licorice and cocoa. Medium to full bodied with ample acidity. Lush and jammy with an abundance of dark fruits and a touch of heat on the palate. Flavors of black cherry, blackberry liqueur, plums and pepper. Medium length on the finish. Easy to drink but somewhat one dimensional. Best over the next 2-3 years.
My rating: 88 points.
Ravenswood is widely available at retail and via their web site. I’ve no idea of what will become of Ravenswood in future years so I will buy the wines when a deal presents itself.